Oh, how we do love “shabby chic.” There’s nothing quite like it. It’s both opulent and rustic and full of whimsy. Like a girly girl wearing her favorite beat up old cowboy boots. Shabby chic blends the old (wood, antiques, rusty metal) and the new (fresh flowers, anyone?) with style and grace. A style of so much femininity and strength is surely worthy of the heart of your home, which is why we’ve pulled together 29 of our favorite shabby chic kitchen decor ideas to inspire your interiors!
29 Gorgeous Shabby Chic Kitchen Decor Ideas for that Lived-in Look
If you’ve ever seen “high-low” fashion, then you’ve got a leg up on realizing your very own shabby chic kitchen decor ideas. The concept of “high-low” fashion is to mix and match items that are worn and simple with items that are more glamorous. The contrast is just beautiful, and when it comes to shabby chic decor it’s the perfect model to follow. So, flip through the inspiration gallery and get ready to go shopping to make your own shabby chic kitchen decor ideas a reality!
1. Cream Colored Cabinets and Ruffled Seat Covers
This decor scheme uses monochrome cream to define the kitchen area as separate from the blush pink living area. Every piece of wood (chairs, cabinets, table legs) has that decorative country house shape and soft molding to give a rustic feel. The pink accent pieces on the kitchen island tie into the wall color of the next room in a lovely way!
2. Blue Walls With Pink and Decorative Plates
This is so bright, eclectic and fun! The floral theme and overall blue and pink color scheme are what ties all of these very different pieces together. A floating shelf is an adorable way to display your antique china, teacups, etc and hang your pretty linens. When they look this cute why hide them away in a drawer?
3. Distressed White Cabinets and Floating Shelves
Simple and neat, this kitchen makes excellent use of very little space. White is a smart choice with a smaller kitchen since its bright and makes it feel more spacious. The accent pieces are really special. There’s an antique ladder that hangs from the ceiling with some flowers and a clever farmhouse camel on the dishwasher. Can you spot it?
4. Antique Scales With Decorative Knick Knacks
Do you have a favorite antique item that you collect? This is a really cute way to display them. You can arrange them side by side in groups of 3-4. Add in some accent pieces like a flower vase or candle that compliment the color of your antiques.
5. Vases Decorated With Rope, Lace, and Pearls
We love to up-cycle! Think about how many glass bottles you use. Don’t just toss them away – up-cycle them! You can re-create this with some rope, lace, paper, faux pearl strands, and a hot glue gun. Mix and match the style to create a beautiful set of vases.
6. Blush Tabletop and Accent Cabinet
We all have at least one piece of sort of awkward furniture that sticks out just a tiny bit. This is an idea that can make it blend in with the space better. The accent cabinet is painted to match the blush tabletop and drapes. It takes pulls the whole space together and makes it cute and eclectic.
7. Floral Teacup Motif Utensil Holder
Did you know that you can decoupage pretty much anything? That’s right! If you have an awesome ceramic like this then that’s great, but if not you can do it yourself. To make a DIY floral print ceramic like this all you need is a container, acrylic paint, a pretty floral print napkin, and a paintbrush. Check out this tutorial.
8. Decorative Wire Drying Rack and Floral China
Cast iron is traditionally black, so when you see a bold metal piece like this in white it’s refreshing and softens the whole look. Most drying racks are not attractive, but this one is positively decorative! You can use it to display pretty shabby-chic china or just to dry out your clean dishes.
9. Antique Porcelain Sink and Distressed Wood Cupboard
When you have an amazing accent piece like this gorgeous sink you have got to let it shine! The elegant wooden leg frame and pretty cross-stitched hand towels show it off perfectly. The distressed wood island table and floating cabinet are also a nice touch.
10. Galvanized Metal Pitcher Vase With Blush Peonies
Galvanized metal pitchers and jugs are so versatile and give you instant shabby-chic cred. Use these pieces as vases or utensil holders. You can put a plain plastic or glass cylinder inside to line them so water for a vase doesn’t damage the metal or leak.
11. Distressed Antique Curio Cabinet With Mason Jars
A curio cabinet is an absolute gem for displaying small items and making them look purposeful instead of cluttered. This cabinet has antique windows for doors which lets you peek into the contents. Something as simple as a set of mason jars looks like a work of art when it’s put up like this. You can also sprinkle in a few smaller items like salt and pepper shakers and pictures.
12. White Fabric Curtain-covered Cabinet
Swapping cabinet doors for a cloth curtain is a brilliant way to get that country style in an instant. Items that don’t store decoratively can be tucked away behind the curtain. Keep the color white or light blue, gray, or pink. Items like silverware and mugs can be stored out in the open with glass jars and metal mug hooks.
13. Gold Trimmed Pink and White China
Putting down doilies instantly softens up any cabinet or tabletop. This is such a cute arrangement of stacked china and pink floral tea sets combined with a ceramic pitcher used as a vase. The gold trim on some of the china plates and salt shakers adds just a touch of fancy to this perfect shabby-chic display.
14. Antique Wooden Letters on a Pastel Wall
Do you have an awkward wall space that feels empty but can’t fit a picture frame or other decor? Distressed letters are so easy to make yourself and can fill those spaces perfectly. You can pick up plain wood letters at any craft store. Paint them your preferred color, them use sanding paper to distress the wood.
15. White Cabinetry With Metal Accents
That big, beautiful antique wash basin and the delicately etched glass votive jars are absolute treasures! Put special items like this on display by keeping everything around them simple and neutral. When in doubt, add flowers. A simple votive candle inside the jars is all you need to light up the etched patterns on the glass.
16. White-washed Wooden Floating Shelf
This would be perfect for an entryway or as a storage space for aprons and linens. This is the type of thing that’s pretty easy to come by antiquing, but you could easily DIY. Use a bracket to connect the two pieces of wood at 90-degrees to one another. Screw in the hooks and paint everything white. Use sandpaper to give it that distressed look.
17. Distressed Wood Shelf With China Rack
You wouldn’t know it by just looking, but this beautiful shabby-chic dish shelf is pretty much made of spare parts. A single antique wood plank and antique L-brackets make the shelf. You can easily screw in the golden mug hooks by hand, just be sure to do them 3-4 inches apart. So easy and so pretty!
18. Whitewashed Wooden Table and Chairs
Isn’t this kitchen the best?! The painted white cabinets and dark metal cabinet hardware are the perfect backdrops for shabby-chic with a neutral palette. The dining table, chairs, and kitchen island have a distressed wood finish that’s a perfect contrast to the finished cabinetry, and the crystal chandelier tops it all off!
19. Distressed Wood Spice Rack With Mason Jar
This is a perfect example of how you can use something as simple as decorative paper to create a unique accent for your home. This cute, simple spice rack is elevated with a set of glass jars lined with patterned paper. Just pick a few patterns that share a color scheme but are different prints (floral, striped, etc) to get a similar look.
20. Picture Frame Message Board and Side Table
Adding a fabric cover and antique frame to a message board is a fun way to introduce floral prints to your decor. Get a simple antique frame and paint it white. Get a cork board that fits into the frame, and use spray adhesive to attach the floral print fabric. Place the cork board into the frame and hang it up!
21. Multicolored Barn Wood Cabinets and Pink Walls
This is such a fantastic, creative use of color! There’s a clear theme: powder blue, baby pink, and cream. The unique barn wood cabinets are painted using those three colors. The collection of glass and ceramic on the white shelves above also follow the palette. The effect is soft, eclectic, and lovely.
22. Powder Blue Walls and Distressed Wood Cabinet
It’s shabby-chic for art lovers! This is a great example of how shabby-chic can be incorporated into other styles of decor and art. The finished cabinets below have faceted glass knobs to tie them into the decor. The distressed cabinet is a focal point, as are the works of art which are framed with other antique elements.
24. Silver and Crystal Chandelier with Wooden Cabinets
Chandeliers are the best and should be used at every possible occasion. This one has a pretty filigree pattern and is dripping with crystals. It’s very ornate, which is perfectly balanced with simple white cabinets and matching metal hardware. Flowers and white ceramic vases – shabby-chic staples – are always invited.
25. Shabby Chic Cubicle Mug Organizer
A place for everything, and everything in its place. This adorable mug cubby has a tiny cubicle for each individual cup. It’s totally adorable and perfect for mix-and-match ceramics. The black wire craft pieces are a really cute accent that mixes up the bunch, too. If you’re lucky enough to own a powder blue KitchenAid mixer then put it on display, too.
26. Distressed Wood Floating Shelf With Mug Hooks
Sometimes you’ll come across a disembodied wooden element like the footboard of a bed or a cover to an old chest. This is a great example of how that can be repurposed as a gorgeous shabby-chic focal point. This is secured to a floating shelf and has simple gold mug hooks added for displaying a tea set.
27. DIY Fresh Flower Chandelier
This is such a beautiful, creative idea for a special event or just to brighten up your space with flowers in a fresh new way. All you need is a crafting circle, some ribbon, lace, and fresh cut flowers. Follow the tutorial photos to create your own floral chandelier. If you leave this hanging the flowers will dry for a pretty dried flower chandelier!
28. Faux Antiqued Refrigerator and Newsy Wallpaper
Fridge? What fridge? You’d never guess there is a modern appliance behind that gorgeous paint job! Apply crown moulding or even an empty picture frame to create the border. Paint the entire fridge with chalk paint or matte finish paint in a color of your choice, then artfully add some streaks of white and sand the frame for a perfect shabby-chic fridge.
29. Roll-top Breadbox With Colored Interior
If you have an awesome antique (or new item) like this but the exterior doesn’t look the way you want it to, this is a fun idea to brighten it up. All you do is paint the outside white and the inside a bright color. You can get a custom design using decopage or transfer paper to apply to the outside, then voila! A one-of-a-kind shabby-chic gem for your home.
Our Favorite Farmhouse Kitchen Decorations to buy on Amazon
